Why are Billionaire owners whining?

[Cardinals1964]

Not this again.

I’m always amused by those who are so cavalier about other people’s money…

There’s a recent umpteen page thread on this same subject. Nothing will be solved here. Got people that can’t pay their rent, telling billionaires how to spend money.

Hey it’s all on them. If they don’t want to spend let them continue to loose $ and cut payroll again and again until the franchise also starts to loose $. No new taxpayer $ for stadium upgrades. Then in 20 years see where it’s at. It’s their choice. Spend for attendance or let the sport die.

It won’t die. I like the thought of seeing in 20 years. A guaranteed 20 year life contract. I’ll take it.

Maybe the MLB will resemble AAA and then there will be 10 real MLB teams in a champions bracket like soccer. Either way there won’t be a salary cap until those top 10 marbles allow full revenue sharing so the cap and floor can be calculate correctly

How would you suggest that a floor works? A suggestion of a floor is quite silly. That’s what the minimum wage is for. How can a team be forced to spend a minimum if the available players aren’t worth it or they don’t want to sign with you?

Currently every team is getting approx $130m annually from the general fund. Several owners are pocketing it as their profit instead of spending on payroll. For the top markets to pay more revenue sharing they want a guarantee it is spent on players. If you cutting the top of market then the growth for the MLBPA has to come from the small markets spending more. The owners have no power to force a cap. Growth is at all time high and a labor stoppage would stop that. A lockout to force a cap won’t happen. 60-% of players are millionaires and the ones in charge of the MLBPA are the richest.

I’m misreading what you are saying or you are wrong.
Luxury tax total was $402 million. So, no. Teams aren’t getting $130 each.
Half of the luxury tax goes to fund player benefits (pension, health care).
Where are you coming up with you’re $130 million?

[Youboughtit]

Not this again.

I’m always amused by those who are so cavalier about other people’s money…

There’s a recent umpteen page thread on this same subject. Nothing will be solved here. Got people that can’t pay their rent, telling billionaires how to spend money.

Hey it’s all on them. If they don’t want to spend let them continue to loose $ and cut payroll again and again until the franchise also starts to loose $. No new taxpayer $ for stadium upgrades. Then in 20 years see where it’s at. It’s their choice. Spend for attendance or let the sport die.

It won’t die. I like the thought of seeing in 20 years. A guaranteed 20 year life contract. I’ll take it.

Maybe the MLB will resemble AAA and then there will be 10 real MLB teams in a champions bracket like soccer. Either way there won’t be a salary cap until those top 10 marbles allow full revenue sharing so the cap and floor can be calculate correctly

How would you suggest that a floor works? A suggestion of a floor is quite silly. That’s what the minimum wage is for. How can a team be forced to spend a minimum if the available players aren’t worth it or they don’t want to sign with you?

Currently every team is getting approx $130m annually from the general fund. Several owners are pocketing it as their profit instead of spending on payroll. For the top markets to pay more revenue sharing they want a guarantee it is spent on players. If you cutting the top of market then the growth for the MLBPA has to come from the small markets spending more. The owners have no power to force a cap. Growth is at all time high and a labor stoppage would stop that. A lockout to force a cap won’t happen. 60-% of players are millionaires and the ones in charge of the MLBPA are the richest.

I’m misreading what you are saying or you are wrong.
Luxury tax total was $402 million. So, no. Teams aren’t getting $130 each.
Half of the luxury tax goes to fund player benefits (pension, health care).
Where are you coming up with you’re $130 million?

That half of $402 plus national TV contract and MLBtv streaming plus shared gate and metrchandise all goes into general fund and distributed 30 ways. It was reported $130m last year. This may help

Key Components of MLB Payments & Funds:
Revenue Sharing: Provides significant annual income, estimated at over $100M per team from national sources plus local shares.
Deferred Compensation: Clubs pay players over time, often using league-facilitated financing, with significant deferrals a key part of large contracts (e.g., Ohtani).
League Loans: MLB has provided loans to teams, especially during tough economic times (like 2020-2021), with repayment terms debated but generally expected from larger market clubs.
Player Benefits: Funds also go towards pension plans and special benefits for former players who didn't fully vest.

Last year this payment alone was $130m

[Cardinals1964]

Not this again.

I’m always amused by those who are so cavalier about other people’s money…

There’s a recent umpteen page thread on this same subject. Nothing will be solved here. Got people that can’t pay their rent, telling billionaires how to spend money.

Hey it’s all on them. If they don’t want to spend let them continue to loose $ and cut payroll again and again until the franchise also starts to loose $. No new taxpayer $ for stadium upgrades. Then in 20 years see where it’s at. It’s their choice. Spend for attendance or let the sport die.

It won’t die. I like the thought of seeing in 20 years. A guaranteed 20 year life contract. I’ll take it.

Maybe the MLB will resemble AAA and then there will be 10 real MLB teams in a champions bracket like soccer. Either way there won’t be a salary cap until those top 10 marbles allow full revenue sharing so the cap and floor can be calculate correctly

How would you suggest that a floor works? A suggestion of a floor is quite silly. That’s what the minimum wage is for. How can a team be forced to spend a minimum if the available players aren’t worth it or they don’t want to sign with you?

Currently every team is getting approx $130m annually from the general fund. Several owners are pocketing it as their profit instead of spending on payroll. For the top markets to pay more revenue sharing they want a guarantee it is spent on players. If you cutting the top of market then the growth for the MLBPA has to come from the small markets spending more. The owners have no power to force a cap. Growth is at all time high and a labor stoppage would stop that. A lockout to force a cap won’t happen. 60-% of players are millionaires and the ones in charge of the MLBPA are the richest.

I’m misreading what you are saying or you are wrong.
Luxury tax total was $402 million. So, no. Teams aren’t getting $130 each.
Half of the luxury tax goes to fund player benefits (pension, health care).
Where are you coming up with you’re $130 million?

That half of $402 plus national TV contract and MLBtv streaming plus shared gate and metrchandise all goes into general fund and distributed 30 ways. It was reported $130m last year. This may help

Key Components of MLB Payments & Funds:
Revenue Sharing: Provides significant annual income, estimated at over $100M per team from national sources plus local shares.
Deferred Compensation: Clubs pay players over time, often using league-facilitated financing, with significant deferrals a key part of large contracts (e.g., Ohtani).
League Loans: MLB has provided loans to teams, especially during tough economic times (like 2020-2021), with repayment terms debated but generally expected from larger market clubs.
Player Benefits: Funds also go towards pension plans and special benefits for former players who didn't fully vest.

Last year this payment alone was $130m

That adds clarity. Even more reason to not worry about the owners going broke. But since not knowing any teams true revenue once you deduct all salaries and minor leagues, who knows. I don’t care. I just wanna watch a game.

[AZ_Cardsfan]

Not this again.

I’m always amused by those who are so cavalier about other people’s money…

last I checked no one was whining but some fans that think the owners owe them a team with a $500 million payroll.

[mattmitchl44]

Very few owners of any professional sports teams - MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, etc. - are willing to operate their teams on an annual negative cash flow basis.

They own these teams because they are interested in the sport and to make at least a little money (even if they could easily find much more profitable investments).

All one can rationally expect is that the owners of the team you root for operate that team in line with the average behavior of other MLB, NFL, etc. owners.

[BrockFloodMaris]

Why is there the assumption that pro sports are just considered “hobbies” to the owners and not an investment? These people didn’t become wealthy by throwing hundreds of millions of dollars away!

Because they can make more $ in other things and most have a sentimental attachment to baseball, tell me you don’t see a difference in the way Dewitt talked when he bought the team and was a fanboy wanting to win at all cost compared to now. He’s lost his fastball

No argument with any of that, however, I doubt any of them would be ok losing money. But that’s my opinion and guess — I have no actual idea.

But they aren’t loosing $. They want it 2 ways.

When you say "they want it 2 ways", I assume you mean that the owners want the value of their investment to increase AND they want to turn an annual profit. Is that correct? I think I can speak for almost every business owner, with a few exceptions of the extremely wealthy, that they absolutely "want it 2 ways". That is why they have made the investment. Steve Cohen and maybe a couple other owners look at pro sports team ownership as a hobby. The rest, and I mean ALL the rest of them want to increase the value of their investment AND turn an annual profit.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

When have billionaires ever stopped whining about anything?

[WeeVikes]

Why is there the assumption that pro sports are just considered “hobbies” to the owners and not an investment? These people didn’t become wealthy by throwing hundreds of millions of dollars away!

Because they can make more $ in other things and most have a sentimental attachment to baseball, tell me you don’t see a difference in the way Dewitt talked when he bought the team and was a fanboy wanting to win at all cost compared to now. He’s lost his fastball

No argument with any of that, however, I doubt any of them would be ok losing money. But that’s my opinion and guess — I have no actual idea.

But they aren’t loosing $. They want it 2 ways.

When you say "they want it 2 ways", I assume you mean that the owners want the value of their investment to increase AND they want to turn an annual profit. Is that correct? I think I can speak for almost every business owner, with a few exceptions of the extremely wealthy, that they absolutely "want it 2 ways". That is why they have made the investment. Steve Cohen and maybe a couple other owners look at pro sports team ownership as a hobby. The rest, and I mean ALL the rest of them want to increase the value of their investment AND turn an annual profit.

You made the point I was trying to make, however you did it more effectively and eloquently.

[alw80]

Professional sports are a hobby for them. Much like hunting or any other sport for the average human. All hobbies are fun and not designed to generate profits. These owners have hundreds of businesses that generate their wealth. I think if you asked any of them prior to buying a team that is how they envisioned it. I beleive what changes is 30 smart guys get it a room and it changes from sport to business. All of the sudden every one of them wants to be the “smartest guy in the room”. Until that changes the fans pay the freight. MLB has an ownership problem except a few at the top.

Loosing $100m per season on a hobby that value increases $200m should not be a problem

Thats what billionaires do. And theres no shortage of people who will take up their cause for them.

[45s]

Not this again.

I’m always amused by those who are so cavalier about other people’s money…

last I checked no one was whining but some fans that think the owners owe them a team with a $500 million payroll.

the idea that a business "owes" anything is amusing in itself

[rockondlouie]

Professional sports are a hobby for them. Much like hunting or any other sport for the average human. All hobbies are fun and not designed to generate profits. These owners have hundreds of businesses that generate their wealth. I think if you asked any of them prior to buying a team that is how they envisioned it. I beleive what changes is 30 smart guys get it a room and it changes from sport to business. All of the sudden every one of them wants to be the “smartest guy in the room”. Until that changes the fans pay the freight. MLB has an ownership problem except a few at the top.

Loosing $100m per season on a hobby that value increases $200m should not be a problem

This has been my focus too in another thread.

I'm not carrying billionaires water for them when they're the one's who've caused this problem by handing out stupid contracts to good but not great players and insane amounts of money (Ohtani/Soto) to the stars.

The one thing I do want to see capped though is deferred money which has given the Dodgers a huge advantage that the Guggenheim guys have beautifully exploited.

Other than that I'm not holding a pity party for any billionaire owners.

JMO

[Goldfan]

Not this again.

I’m always amused by those who are so cavalier about other people’s money…

last I checked no one was whining but some fans that think the owners owe them a team with a $500 million payroll.

the idea that a business "owes" anything is amusing in itself

Unless some CT posters are FANS of the owner it’s very confusing why any FAN of a sports team would ally themselves with an owner who isn’t putting a winning entertaining product on the field for the paying customer???

[Cranny]

Not this again.

I’m always amused by those who are so cavalier about other people’s money…

last I checked no one was whining but some fans that think the owners owe them a team with a $500 million payroll.

the idea that a business "owes" anything is amusing in itself

Unless some CT posters are FANS of the owner it’s very confusing why any FAN of a sports team would ally themselves with an owner who isn’t putting a winning entertaining product on the field for the paying customer???

Boo Hoo.

[Goldfan]

Not this again.

I’m always amused by those who are so cavalier about other people’s money…

last I checked no one was whining but some fans that think the owners owe them a team with a $500 million payroll.

the idea that a business "owes" anything is amusing in itself

Unless some CT posters are FANS of the owner it’s very confusing why any FAN of a sports team would ally themselves with an owner who isn’t putting a winning entertaining product on the field for the paying customer???

Boo Hoo.

Not sure what’s boo hoo…if an owner is unable to maintain the quality product they should move on or the business dies

[TheJackBurton]

Not this again.

I’m always amused by those who are so cavalier about other people’s money…

There’s a recent umpteen page thread on this same subject. Nothing will be solved here. Got people that can’t pay their rent, telling billionaires how to spend money.

Hey it’s all on them. If they don’t want to spend let them continue to loose $ and cut payroll again and again until the franchise also starts to loose $. No new taxpayer $ for stadium upgrades. Then in 20 years see where it’s at. It’s their choice. Spend for attendance or let the sport die.

It won’t die. I like the thought of seeing in 20 years. A guaranteed 20 year life contract. I’ll take it.

Maybe the MLB will resemble AAA and then there will be 10 real MLB teams in a champions bracket like soccer. Either way there won’t be a salary cap until those top 10 marbles allow full revenue sharing so the cap and floor can be calculate correctly

How would you suggest that a floor works? A suggestion of a floor is quite silly. That’s what the minimum wage is for. How can a team be forced to spend a minimum if the available players aren’t worth it or they don’t want to sign with you?

3 other leagues have figured it out without a problem. There are only so many roster spots so players will have to sign elsewhere whether they want to or not.

[mattmitchl44]

Not this again.

I’m always amused by those who are so cavalier about other people’s money…

last I checked no one was whining but some fans that think the owners owe them a team with a $500 million payroll.

the idea that a business "owes" anything is amusing in itself

Unless some CT posters are FANS of the owner it’s very confusing why any FAN of a sports team would ally themselves with an owner who isn’t putting a winning entertaining product on the field for the paying customer???

Boo Hoo.

Not sure what’s boo hoo…if an owner is unable to maintain the quality product they should move on or the business dies

They are trying to get back to a sustainable "quality product". There is no quick fix to get there.